Formula One is to introduce a penalty points system from next season similar to that applied to road users in the United Kingdom.

The move has been rubber-stamped following the latest meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, which convened at Goodwood House.

A statement from the FIA confirmed: "A penalty point system for drivers will be introduced. If a driver accumulates more than 12 points he will be banned from the next race. Points will stay on a driver's licence for 12 months.

"The amount of points a driver may be given for infringements will vary from one to three depending upon the severity of the offence."

Further amendments to the sporting regulations for 2014 see a return of in-season testing, which was banned from 2009 as a way of saving costs.

From next season teams will be permitted to take part in four two-day tests at tracks in Europe and on a Tuesday and Wednesday after a grand prix.

In return, to keep costs low, the WMSC has determined the tests will replace the currently allowed eight one-day promotional days and the three-day young driver test, while there will also be a significant reduction in the amount of wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) work.

Other significant changes see each driver provided with one extra set of tyres for use only during the initial 30 minutes of first practice, in order to encourage teams to take to the track at that time without having to worry about using valuable tyre wear.

With regard to the new engines being introduced from next year, as 1.6-litre V6 turbo-charged power units replace the current 2.4-litre V8s, a driver can use only five per season.

The WMSC said that "any use of an additional complete power unit will result in that driver having to start the race from the pit lane".

Furthermore "any changes of individual elements above the permitted five, such as turbocharger, MGU (motor generator unit) or energy store, will result in a 10 grid-place penalty".

Drivers must also use a gearbox for six consecutive events, an increase from the current five, while no car may use more than 100kg of fuel for a race.